Tsuruga Comprehensive Research and Development Center (Tsurusoken) is a research and development center and works on the activities aiming for a locally rooted hub.
It was reorganized in November 2024, and the main activities cover a wide range of fields such as research and development of applied laser technology, support for local industries, human resource development, international cooperation, and industry-academia-government collaboration. We believe that these activities will contribute to Fukui Prefecture's “Reinan E. Coast Plan”.
There are several nuclear power plants in Fukui Prefecture that have been decided to be decommissioned including “Fugen” and “Monju” of JAEA, and the decommissioning business will get into full swing. To proceed with the business, the establishment, standardization and efficiency of technology are required on the premise of ensuring the safety of local residents and workers. In response, there are local companies that have supported the maintenance and repair of 15 nuclear reactors in the prefecture. Utilizing their experience and capabilities, they are expected to become the core of a group of companies that lead the decommissioning business.
In order to support and accelerate such movements, JAEA established the "Fukui Smart Decommissioning Technology Demonstration Base (Sumadeco)" as part of the Regional Science and Technology Demonstration Base Establishment Project of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the operation started in June of 2018.
Sumadeco has welcomed more than 1,600 visitors since established, mainly from the local companies and organizations. In addition, it has been used for technical training in decommissioning, and study, research and technological development related to decommissioning conducted by each company.
We will continue to collaborate with local related organizations in the region and obtain the cooperation of economic organizations to support the technological improvement of regional companies. Furthermore, we will make effective use of Sumadeco facility to solve technological problems aimed at promoting rational decommissioning.
Additionally, a distinctive feature of Fukui Prefecture is that universities and research institutes related to nuclear energy are centrally located. Taking advantage of this regional strength, JAEA actively works on industry-academia-government collaboration in order to bring out the synergistic effects. As part of this effort, we actively cooperate with universities, institutes and organizations in the prefecture in the development of human resources, including students who will play important roles for future nuclear decommissioning.
We would appreciate your continued understanding and support for Tsurusoken, JAEA.
November 2024
UNO Masayoshi
Director
Tsuruga Comprehensive Research and Development Center
Japan Atomic Energy Agency
The organizational chart of Tsuruga Comprehensive Research and Development Center (Tsurusoken) is as follows.
Our main activities are as follows.
We conduct R&Ds on laser cutting and decontamination technologies for decommissioning, and laser thermal processing for industrial applications.
In the "Fukui Smart Decommissioning Technology Demonstration Base (Sumadeco)" which is the facility for shared use, we provide technological seeds on decommissioning to local companies, improve their technical capabilities through demonstrations and support them to entry into the decommissioning business.
We provide technological exchange such as technological consultation and technological development with local companies in Fukui Prefecture. By utilizing JAEA's research results and patents, we support the local companies to develop new products and merchandise other than the field of nuclear energy.
We work on developing human resources for the next generation by providing educational support and teaching materials related to "environment, radiation and energy" to elementary schools, junior high schools and senior high schools in Fukui Prefecture.
In addition, by utilizing the Sodium-Handling Training Facility and the Maintenance Technology Facility, we are engaged in employee education on sodium handling technology and maintenance technology to promote the project safely.
We work on international cooperation for supporting and training nuclear specialists.
